It's not just ordinary paper. It has watermarks on it that make it truly one of a kind. I will even tell you (but this is strictly between ourselves) that they even accept this paper at grocery stores and give you all kinds of food in exchange. I know you will find it utterly incredulous, but you will have to take my word for it. The reasons they do that are complex, but believe me that is so. Just don't share this secret knowledge with other players. Remember, it's strictly between you and me. I won't tell anyone else, and you will also keep it to yourself and this way, nobody else will ever find out :)

One of the properties of REAL money according to money theory is USELESS of it. Gold is best example. Nobody really need it. If gold will jump to $10K per troy once, FED will not really care. They will inform: No inflation. CPI and other **I's will OK. So, why not? Who count these idiots (goldbugs)? The same story with diamonds: if you have monopoly and nobody care, price may rocket. Very good thing to speculate then peple lost trust in gov. JIMHO.

P.S. From the same reason I'm not sure prices of other commodity can skyrocket. They really care about that. It's political issue. Gov will try to manupulate/restrict/limit free market. They don't want see hungry and angry people at Main Street.

@VExplorer: I think the current regime does like to see the streets full of hungry and angry people. They see them as job security. Happy, prosperous and self-secure people would not have made the election choices they have for most of the last 50 years. The current regime is just the worst of the bunch.